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Update on latest MERS situation in Saudi Arabia and Qatar
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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 28) closely monitoring 14 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including two deaths, reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Qatar. The CHP again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks in the places they visit.
 
     In the KSA, 13 cases of MERS were reported between March 18 and April 20. The 13 patients comprised 12 men (including two fatal cases) and one woman aged from 20 to 86, with 10 having underlying illnesses. Among them, six patients had contact with camels or consumed camel milk while two cases had contact with previously reported MERS Coronavirus cases.
 
     In Qatar, the case involved a 25-year-old man was reported on April 18. The patient has a history of contact with camels and is currently in stable condition.
 
     To date, 1 952 cases have been reported to the WHO, with at least 693 deaths. Of note, 1 736 were confirmed in 10 Middle East countries, with 1 588 in the KSA, 81 in the United Arab Emirates, 28 in Jordan, 18 in Qatar, eight in Oman, six in Iran, four in Kuwait, and one each in Lebanon, Yemen and Bahrain.
 
     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels, avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry, and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus," a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     "We will maintain close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities," the spokesman added.
 
     The CHP has launched a new poster (see attachment) to enhance health education for the public and pilgrims travelling to the Middle East on prevention against MERS.
 
     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the following pages for more information and health advice: the MERS pages of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the WHO's latest news. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS.
 
Ends/Friday, April 28, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:12
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